Montessori Pre-Primary
Nurturing the first steps of learning
The Bay Academy Montessori Pre-School provides an authentic Montessori environment for children from 18 months to 6 years old. We focus on early foundations of exploration, communication and joyful learning.
Our educators are heart-centred guides who connect with each child, nurturing a love of learning, growing self-awareness and respect for others.
Beautiful, natural spaces
both locally and globally
Small classes, big growth
authentic Montessori tools and indoor–outdoor learning
Our beautiful, eco-friendly classrooms offer small, child-centred learning environments with a maximum of 18 children per class. Each space is equipped with authentic Montessori materials and its own garden, creating a natural indoor–outdoor flow that supports exploration and independence.
The grounds include safe, supervised outdoor areas for play, as well as convenient parking and drop-and-go facilities. We invite you to visit our school and experience how our environments support your child’s first steps in their learning journey.
The Secret of Childhood
The Montessori difference
For more than a century, Dr. Maria Montessori’s child-centred approach has shaped schools around the world. Step into a Montessori classroom and you immediately sense something unique: children working independently or in groups, fully engaged, and respectfully caring for their environment.
The Montessori Method nurtures self-motivated growth across cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Learning is student-led and self-paced, supported by knowledgeable teachers, peer leadership, and a calm, structured environment.
Multi-age classrooms encourage independence, responsibility, and curiosity. Children explore concepts through hands-on, multisensory learning, progressing at their own pace toward personal mastery.
With the freedom to question, investigate, and connect ideas, Montessori students grow into confident, thoughtful, and self-directed young people who collaborate well, think critically, and act with integrity.
Early Development
Sensitive periods
The first six years of life are the formative years, when children naturally and effortlessly absorb information from their environment. Montessori called this the Absorbent Mind—a stage where children internalise what they see, hear, and experience, becoming especially drawn to certain activities or ways of learning.
Natural Growth Milestones
Montessori Support
These natural “sensitive periods” guide development in areas such as movement, order, sensory refinement, language, social awareness, and attention to detail. Montessori environments are intentionally designed to support these moments, giving children what they need at the time they are most ready to learn.
Holistic curriculum
A Montessori programme aims to help each child reach their full potential through a hands-on, three-year curriculum that nurtures social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. This holistic approach fosters independence, confidence, and a genuine love of learning—the essence of the “whole child approach.”
Environment
For self-directed learning to thrive, the environment—materials, space, and social atmosphere—must support the child. Montessori follows “freedom within boundaries,” with age-appropriate ground rules rooted in respect for others and the environment.
The Directress provides resources and a positive, safe climate that builds trust, encourages exploration, and develops confidence. Staff structure new activities according to core Montessori principles.
Work cycle
The work cycle is a key Montessori concept. Montessori observed that children, when left uninterrupted, move through a natural pattern of deep engagement. A three-hour uninterrupted work period allows the classroom pace to align with the child’s developmental rhythm.
Lunches
Children at The Bay Montessori look forward to wholesome, home-cooked lunches prepared with care. Meals are enjoyed together in a family-style setting, with children serving themselves and washing up afterward.
We use free-range meats, chicken, and eggs, organic ingredients where possible, and cater for dietary needs.
If a child is not signed up for cooked lunches, they simply fetch their own meal to join the group at lunchtime.
testimonials
What parents are saying
“We were blessed with two beautiful kids. Our son started at MMES when he was 2 and a half years old in 2019 and is now 4 and a half. We have weathered COVID lockdown, online circle time as well as the transition with the new management of the school. Our son was so content at MMES that it made our decision to also send our daughter to MMES quite effortless. Our daughter attends the schools toddler class. She was quite reserved at first but since starting here, she has blossomed and both my son and daughter’s vocabulary has expanded tremendously. I am so comforted to see that my little babies love to learn and do so without force and are filled with joy and excitement.
I think one of the biggest positive factors for my kids is the learning environment focusses on each child individually and teaches them through play.
I’m very impressed with the community and transparency factor. Even now with COVID… and the bigger kids having to wear their masks and the distancing aspect, the atmosphere is still warm and wonderful. My kids go to school happy every morning and when I pick them up, they have always had the best time and excited to tell me about their day.
“We have never seen a school give such specific and thoughtful feedback to our child’s development.
Every single staff member exudes care, interest and excitement towards all the children. Our son runs onto the school premises most days.
One of our greatest delights of our sons schooling is he is almost unaware that he is learning, to him he is simply having fun, to us we are blown away by what he regales us with.”
“Not only does the The Bay Academy Montessori School school boast a charming and pristine exterior; not terribly unlike how I might imagine Disney would design and colour a child’s dream school, but the teachers and staff are just as lovely. They are all extremely friendly, helpful and put the children’s best interests above all else. They are trustworthy and highly experienced. My toddler son started at the beginning of 2021 and he has since thrived. My boy has developed great confidence and life skills, and is blossoming into a smart, kind and independent young boy. He loves school, loves his teachers, has made great friends and looks forward to returning each day. When I drop him off in the morning I feel confident as a parent that he his safe and cared for, for the duration of the day. I am proud to tell others about his school and feel, without a doubt, that I have made the right decision for my son’s education. “
“…in our schools, which have an environment adapted to children’s needs, they say, ‘Help me to do it alone.”
– Maria Montessori